Scheduling Delay Minimization for Non-UGS Data in Multi-Channel HFC Network

Wei-Tsong LEE
Kuo-Chi CHU
Kun-Chen CHUNG
Jen-Yi PAN
Pau-Choo CHUNG

Publication
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Communications   Vol.E88-B    No.2    pp.623-631
Publication Date: 2005/02/01
Online ISSN: 
DOI: 10.1093/ietcom/e88-b.2.623
Print ISSN: 0916-8516
Type of Manuscript: PAPER
Category: Fiber-Optic Transmission for Communications
Keyword: 
HFC network,  DOCSIS protocol,  multi-channel scheduling algorithm,  Lagrange multiplier,  

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Summary: 
The multi-channel Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network is essentially a shared medium with multi-channels. Its operation requires the use of a scheduling algorithm to manage the data transmission within each channel. The Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol is an important standard for HFC networks. Since this protocol does not explicitly specify the scheduling algorithm to be used, many alternative algorithms have been proposed. However, none of these algorithms are applicable to the scheduling of non-Unsolicited Grant Service (UGS) data in multi-channel HFC networks. Accordingly, the present study develops a multi-channel scheduling algorithm which optimizes the scheduling delay time of each transmitted non-UGS request. This algorithm manages the amount of data transmission in each upstream channel according to the overall network load and the bandwidth available in each channel. This study constructs a mathematical model of the algorithm and then uses this model as the basis for a series of simulations in which the performance of the scheduling algorithm is evaluated.